I just moved here from San Francisco and would like to find some top-notch espresso. Kopplin's is amazing, but it's in St. Paul; so is Black Sheep. Overflow was a total disappointment--the cappuccino I had tasted burnt and was served in a huge mug with stiff foam. They clearly haven't heard of microfoam there. Haven't tried Rustica yet. Are there any new shops that have recently opened up?

I would recommend Kopplins, Angry Catfish, Rustica, and Black Sheep. Had great Kenya from Kopplins just last week... they are bringing some great coffees from excellent roasters.

Also, I know your looking in Minneapolis, but thought I'd mention that there is a new place opening up in St. Paul at 769 Cleveland Ave. S. They are shooting to be open this weekend. They will be doing all coffee of the day on pourover via hario v-60, espressos will be pulled on a lever group GB-5 La Marzocco using a Mazzer Robur and Anfim, with only extensively trained professionals pulling shots. All of their coffee will be coming from MadCap in Grand Rapids. Very simple menu with very intentionally sourced products. The space is just getting completed and it looks beautiful. They are located in the old White Rock Coffee Roasters Space.

Name of the shop is Quixotic Coffee. Check em out...http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saint-Paul-MN/Quixotic-Coffee/129981997038513?v=info&ref=ts

Disclaimer: I have biased being that I have worked closely with this company and am employed by MadCap. But still think everyone should check it out.

I would recommend Kopplins, Angry Catfish, Rustica, and Black Sheep. Had great Kenya from Kopplins just last week... they are bringing some great coffees from excellent roasters.

Also, I know your looking in Minneapolis, but thought I'd mention that there is a new place opening up in St. Paul at 769 Cleveland Ave. S. They are shooting to be open this weekend. They will be doing all coffee of the day on pourover via hario v-60, espressos will be pulled on a lever group GB-5 La Marzocco using a Mazzer Robur and Anfim, with only extensively trained professionals pulling shots...

Name of the shop is Quixotic Coffee. Check em out...http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saint-Paul-MN/Quixotic-Coffee/129981997038513?v=info&ref=ts

Disclaimer: I have biased being that I have worked closely with this company and am employed by MadCap. But still think everyone should check it out.

Will be visiting daughter in Twin Cities in Aug and will visit Quixotic. +1 on Black Sheep and Kopplins. Will try to sneak in Angry Catfish and Rustica but there is a level at which the Coffee Czarina says, "no mas cafe."

Coffee: 49th Parallel Epic. Anfim Super grinder and a 3-group Synesso. I had a capp. The Epic is blended (Kenyan, El Salv, Costa Rican) to really punch through milk. Punch through it does. Though some swear by it (Mark Prince: ), the punch is more than I care for. Two years ago I had a Terroir capp here that was much more in line with my taste (blend of 3 Brazils). Very nice tight milk with a perfect rosetta. Milk is grass fed, organic, from Castle Rock, in Osseo, WI (remember going in the ditch one eveing during bad Jan storm).

The shop also has two Clovers. I believe they are using all 49th Parallel Coffee. The Czarina had an Overdrive (cup of coffee and a shot of espresso) and then bathed it in .5n.5. We were there at 11.30am and the line kept on coming. Small shop; 15x40. Everything is understated (my daughter says that is "St. Paul," understating everything). Lean decorating, soft feel to it, minimal advertising/branding. Coffees featured are 8x11 framed, very clear description of coffee growing and cupping highlights.

Coffee: AAmbience: A- (small shop with minimal seating)

Angry Catfish Bike heaven dominates the shop, items for sale. Moots handmade bikes from Steamboat Springs. It is really a heavily bike theme shop with coffee as an afterthought, as presented.

I asked her where I could pick up a pourover set-up for our daughter. She reached under the bar and said, "I have a brown #1 or a white #2 Hario. Need filters as well?" I w<h>igged out. Boom, done.

The offer in drinks: press pots, Chemex, pourovers, and vacpots as well. Unreal place. A bit on the "new," bending to cold side. I would have found an old barn in the rural areas and used it for the floor to give it some character to balance out the "hard" bike theme.

Coffee: AAmbiance: B+

(While there, stopped at A Baker's Wife Pastry Shop, right next to the Angry Catfish. I had a sour cherry danish to die for and grabbed a whole wheat, sour-dough for the house. Tree-mendous.

Quick questions for the MSP crowd: My usual morning hangout and base of operations when visiting MSP is Coffee Bene at Cleveland & Grand for several reasons. It's open long hours, has a nice space and atmosphere, lots of seating, easy parking, decent muffins and juices, and free internet. It's also centrally located for the things I do there.

1) I'm just wondering if someone had any other suggestions for the colleges/Grand Ave/Highland Park area that would also be open early AM, have ample seating and have free internet? Has to be north and east of the rivers and in the same area - please not on the other side of town or in Mpls.

2) Also, any shops with free internet open late in the Vadnais, WBL, Maplewood, Little Canada area? Otherwise I end up getting my late evening internet at the WBL Caribou.... (Not complaining, 'cause that's vastly more than WBL offered in the old days)

I can't say I am the most seasoned espresso drinker but I came home for the the weekend to visit my parents and I have had some real fun going to different places.

First night we were in uptown and checked out the Dogwood coffee bar. I know this may not help you much but I will tell you my experience and you can draw your own conclusions. My dad, who drinks Folgers generally, and I walked up and I noticed there Mazzer sitting there and mentioned it being a nice grinder to my dad. He asked if that is what I wanted and the barista replied, "don't we all". (1 point for the barista). We ordered an espresso and since it was 6 o'clock I didn't want a double. The barista was nice enough to split the shot up into two cups. There was a lot of crema and long lived. Evidently they used to have a lever machine but they replaced it with .... (don't remember). All in all I think it is definitely a good place to have an espresso. I would go back if I were in the uptown area.

Shot two: Kopplins. Thankfully one of my great friends lives 2 blocks away from Kopplins and we were able to go in to have a shot. Everybody has already said how amazing this place is. I have nothing more to add.

Shot three: Quixotic. Also fortunate for me my girlfriends dad lives about a half a mile from here. Walking in I was greeted warmly. The barista asked what I was up to for the day and we had a genuine conversation. I ordered my espresso and waited patiently. I am used to getting some kind of water with my espresso but this was the first time I was actually given San Pellegrino. I asked about local roasters and he said I should really check out Black Sheep as well. He took great care with my shot on his LM.

Now tomorrow I leave and my mom said she wants to go get coffee so I came on here to find a new place to try out because we are on the MPLS side which seems more difficult. I guess St Paul really seems to have things under control as far as coffee is concerned.

i'll be there in july for a week on business with long days @ the convention center. if there's nothing, i may have to bring my travel set-up -- which is fine -- except it'd lead to me hosting coffee in my room at 6:30 every morning. i'd rather bring a local third wave some business instead. . . all things considered.

harry.

"i should pull up the hardwood to see if there's carpet underneath! . . . no, that's never the case."

OK, daughters' friends had alerted me that there were some new/existing shops that needed exploration so I did a power-crawl on Sunday a.m. while visiting the Land of Hot Dishes.

Existing: Bob's Java Hut is a "no need to stop." We opened the shop at 7am (whoops, forgot we had lost an hour during the night). Early. Very kind, cordial gent greeted us. Half-played out Euro-motorcycle theme. Just doesn't come together. Coffee? Flat, stale cup of Nicaragua. A half a cup and we were off to Bull Run.

Bull Run. New in the last year. In the LynLake neighborhood. Excellent El Salvadoran pourover in a Hario arrangement. Retail side is superbly stocked with Harios, filters, Bodums, hand grinders and Bull Run's own locally roasted coffees. Next time, will stay around for a macchiato. Barista/owner says, "also try Blue Ox while you are in town," after we had discussed all the 3rd wave shops in the Twin Cities. A worthy visit. http://www.bullrunroasting.com/

Blue Ox, wedged in between the Powderhorn and Bryant neighborhoods. Mostly Counter Culture coffee. Rustico and Apollo blends to try -- I opt for the Apollo, iteration 7, Ecuadoran. Barista is dissatisfied with shot one and feeds it to the Mississippi River. She nails the second shot, pours a gorgeous rosetta on top of it. Excellent.

I next tried a local roaster's pourover in a Hario -- Brazil Recreio. No sugar/creamers out. They offer 25 oz insulated caraffes of Chemex pourovers. Powderhorn to the north, Bryant to the south, Central <?> to the east. Great shop -- open 6 months -- hope it gets traction. Shoot the breeze -- these folks know coffee. Next trip to the TC's I will spend more time here and challenge manager Jackie's ristretto. Definitely worth your business. http://blueoxcoffeecompany.com/

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